An online petition has demanded the resignation of Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque for his remarks advising the free-thinkers not to hurt religious feelings through their writings.
Bangladesh Liberal Forum (BLF), a group of loosely associated activists dedicated to the promotion of liberal values in Bangladesh, launched the petition.
Two days into the gruesome murder of secular writer Niladri Chatterjee, IGP Shahidul Haque said: “No one should cross the limit. And for hurting someone’s religious sentiment, the person will be punished by the law.”
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In the petition, the group stated through the recent comments on the murder of Niladri Chattopadhyay, the IGP made it clear that he is unfit and unwilling to protect the lives of freethinkers.
It said the remarks also proved that the police chief is also unwilling to ensure that there is space for freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
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Also known as Niloy Neel on blogging platforms and Facebook, Niladri Chatterjee was killed with machetes by four unidentified assailants at his Goran residence in Dhaka on August 7.
Niloy, who worked at an NGO, had rented the flat on the fourth floor of a building in the area two years back, identifying himself as a Muslim named Niloy Chowdhury. He used to stay with his wife Ashamoni and sister-in-law.
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Recently he was trying to leave the country out of fear as three secularist activists had been killed by the militants since February. He also received threats several times.
A group named Ansar Al Islam, believed to be banned militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team, has claimed responsibility for the murder. In an email sent to the media in the afternoon, they said that Niloy had been killed for his blasphemous activities, and warned others of similar consequences for demeaning the Almighty and the Prophet.
“If your ‘freedom of speech’ maintains no limits, then widen your chests for the ‘freedom of our machetes,’” the email reads,” they said in the email.